Computer Science and Information Technology Education

Computer Science and Information Technology Education

Course Descriptions

All courses are 1 semester, 1 credit courses unless otherwise noted.  Courses can be taken for credit one time only, unless otherwise noted.   Students in honors level classes will be expected to complete assignments above and beyond those of the standard level courses. Level II courses require a passing course grade and proficiency on the EOC assessment for the prerequisite or Level I course.

Adobe Digital Design I                                                          F/S               

Course Number:   II432X01

This course is a project-based course that develops ICT, career, and communication skills in Web design using Adobe tools. This course is aligned to Adobe Dreamweaver certification. English language arts are reinforced. Work-based learning strategies appropriate for this course include job shadowing and cooperative education. SkillsUSA competitive events, community service, and leadership activities provide the opportunity to apply essential standards and workplace readiness skills through authentic experiences.

 Length of Course: 1 Unit      

Recommended for Grades: 10-12

Adobe Video Design I                                                          F/S               

Course Number:   II452X01

This course is a project-based video course that develops career and communication skills in video production using Adobe tools.  This course is aligned to Adobe Premiere certification.  English language arts are reinforced.  Work-based learning strategies appropriate for this course include job shadowing and cooperative education. Skills USA competitive events, community service, and leadership activities provide the opportunity to apply essential standards and workplace readiness skills through authentic experiences.

 Length of Course: 1 Unit      

Recommended for Grades: 10-12

Adobe Visual Design I                                                          F/S               

Course Number:   II412X01

In this course, students develop skills that lay the foundation for photography and producing print-ready communications: graphic design principles, visual comps, illustration, print production development, shared project management skills such as interviewing and project scheduling, peer review and redesign.  Project activities focus on developing effective communications that can be deployed in print, web or video.  Students develop a variety of images, such as raster-based graphics, logos, advertisements, posters and illustrations.  They produce design documents and visual comps that clients review.  Student culminate the semester with a portfolio project, reflect on the skills and topics covered thus far, and begin exploring the career areas that interest them in visual design.  This course is aligned to the Adobe Certified Associate Photoshop and Adobe Certified Associate Illustrator certifications.   English language arts are reinforced. Work-based learning strategies appropriate for this course include cooperative education.  SkillsUSA competitive events, community service, and leadership activities provide the opportunity to apply essential standards and workplace readiness skills through authentic experiences.

 Length of Course: 1 Unit      

Recommended for Grades: 9-12

Adobe Visual Design II                                                          F/S               

Course Number:   II422X01

This course builds on student design and development skills by focusing on longer print production projects as well as more in-depth content and advanced techniques for graphics and layout development.  Students continue to produce rich print communications as they focus on effective graphic design, project management, design specifications, and iterative development. Students develop graphic design and print production skills that solve specific communication challenges to meet client and audience needs. This course is aligned to the Adobe Certified Associate InDesign certification and also integrates Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator skills.  English language arts are reinforced. Work-based learning strategies appropriate for this course include cooperative education.  SkillsUSA competitive events, community service, and leadership activities provide the opportunity to apply essential standards and workplace readiness skills through authentic experiences.

 Length of Course: 1 Unit      

Recommended for Grades: 10-12

Cisco Network Engineering Technology I                                    F/S

Inherently Honors Course

Course Number Honors:  II115X01

This course introduces the architecture, structure, functions, components, and models of the Internet and other computer networks.  The principles and structure of IP addressing and the fundamentals of Ethernet concepts, media, and operations are introduced to provide a foundation for the curriculum.  By the end of the course, students will be able to build simple LANs, perform basic configurations for routers and switches, and implement IP addressing schemes.  English language arts, mathematics, and science are reinforced.  Work-based learning strategies appropriate for this course include cooperative education, internship, and job shadowing.  SkillsUSA competitive events, community service, and leadership activities provide the opportunity to apply essential standards and workplace readiness skills through authentic experiences.

Length of Course: 1 Unit    

Recommended for Grades: 11-12

Cisco Network Engineering Technology II                                 F/S 

Inherently Honors Course

Course Number Honors:   II125X01

Prerequisite:   II115X01 Cisco Network Engineering Technology I

This course describes the architecture, components, and operations of routers and switches for basic functionality.  By the end of this course, students will be able to configure and troubleshoot routers and switches and resolve common issues with RIPv1, RIPv2, single-area and multi-area OSPF, virtual LANs, and inter-VLAN routing in both IPv4 and IPv6 networks.  This course uses the Cisco Routing & Switching Essentials curriculum and must be conducted using the Cisco Networking Academy connection. English language arts, mathematics, and science are reinforced. Work-based learning strategies appropriate for this course include cooperative education, internship, and job shadowing. This course can help prepare students for the CCENT certificate. SkillsUSA competitive events, community service, and leadership activities provide the opportunity to apply essential standards and workplace readiness skills through authentic experiences

Length of Course: 1 Unit    

Recommended for Grades: 11-12

CompTIA IT Fundamentals                                                                           F

Course Number: BI122X01

This introductory course provides students with the foundation to pursue further study in information technology.  Emphasis is on activities and hands-on experiences to help students with understanding computing basics and hardware, types of software, setting up a basic workstation, an introduction to networking, configuring wireless devices, and securing computing devices. Work-based learning strategies appropriate for this course include entrepreneurship, mentorship, service learning, and job shadowing.  Apprenticeship and cooperative education are not available for this course.  Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and SkillsUSA competitive events, community service, and leadership activities provide the opportunity to apply essential standards and workplace readiness skills through authentic experiences.

This course can help prepare students for the CompTIA IT Fundamentals (FC0-U51) credential.

Length of Course: 1 Unit   

Recommended for Grades: 9-10

Computer Engineering Technology I                                 F/S                                        

Inherently Honors Course

Prerequisite:        BI12 CompTIA IT Fundamentals

Course Number:   II215X0S

This course is the first in a two course series that introduces the skills required for entry level PC technicians.  It includes objectives in the following four domains: a) PC Hardware, b) Networking, c) Mobile devices, d) Hardware and networking troubleshooting.  English language arts , mathematics, and science are reinforced. Work-based learning strategies appropriate for this course are cooperative education, internship and job shadowing.  SkillsUSA competitive events, community service, and leadership activities provide the opportunity to apply essential standards and workplace readiness skills through authentic experiences.

Length of Course: 1 Unit    

Recommended for Grades: 11-12

Computer Engineering Technology II                               F/S               

Inherently Honors Course

Course Number Honors:   II225X01

Prerequisite:        II212X0S Computer Engineering Technology I

This course is the second in a two course series that introduces the skills required for entry level PC technicians.  It includes objective in the following five domains: a) Windows operating system, b) Other operating systems and technologies, c) Security, d) Software troubleshooting, e) Operational procedures. English language arts, mathematics, and science are reinforced. Work-based learning strategies appropriate for this course include cooperative education, internship, and job shadowing. This course helps prepare students for the CompTIA A+ credential. SkillsUSA competitive events, community service, and leadership activities provide the opportunity to apply essential standards and workplace readiness skills through authentic experiences.    

Length of Course: 1 Unit      

Recommended for Grades: 11-12

Foundations of Information Technology                               F/S               

Course Number Honors:   BI102X0S

This introductory course provides students with the foundation to pursue further study in information technology. Emphasis is on network systems, information support and services, programming and software development, and interactive media. Mathematics is reinforced. 

Length of Course: 1 Unit      

Recommended for Grades: 9-10

Microsoft Excel                                                                         F/S                      

Inherently Honors Course

Course Number:  BM205X001

Recommendation: Microsoft Word and Powerpoint

Students in Microsoft Imagine Academy benefit from world-class Microsoft curriculum and cutting-edge software tools to tackle real-world challenges in the classroom environment.  This class is designed to prepare students for successful completion of the Microsoft Office Specialist Excel Core and Excel Expert exams.  Successful candidates for the Microsoft Office Specialist Excel 2016 certification exam will have a fundamental understanding of the Excel environment and be ability to complete tasks independently.  They will know and demonstrate the correct application of the principle features of Excel 2016.  Candidates create and edit a workbook with multiple sheets, and they use a graphic element to represent data visually.  Workbook examples include professional-looking budgets, financial statements, team performance charts, sales invoices, and data-entry logs.  

Expert level candidates for the Excel 2016 exam have an advanced understanding of the Excel environment and have the ability to guide others to the proper use of the program's features.  They create, manage, and distribute professional spreadsheets for a variety of specialized purposes and situations.  They customize their Excel environments to meet project needs and to enhance productivity.  Expert workbook examples include custom business templates, multiple-axis financial charts, amortization tables, and inventory schedules.  Career possibilities may include accountants, financial analysts, data analysts, commercial bankers, and others.

Work-based learning strategies appropriate for this course include cooperative education, entrepreneurship, internship, mentorship, service learning, and job shadowing.  Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) competitive events, community service, and leadership activities provide the opportunity to apply essential standards and workplace readiness skills through authentic experiences. Course will count as a 4th math credit for students planning to attend a community college or technical school.

Length of Course: 1 Unit     

Recommended for Grades: 9-12

Microsoft Word and PowerPoint                              F/S

Course Number:  BM102X001

Students in the Microsoft Imagine Academy benefit from world-class Microsoft curriculum and software tools to tackle real-world challenges in the classroom environment.  In the first part, students will learn to use the current version of Microsoft Word interface, commands, and features to create, enhance, customize, share and create complex documents, and publish them.  In the second part, students will learn to use the current version of Microsoft PowerPoint interface, commands, and features to create, enhance, customize, and deliver presentations.  English language arts are reinforced.  Work-based learning strategies appropriate for this course include cooperative education, internship, service learning, and job shadowing.  Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) competitive events, community service, and leadership activities provide the opportunity to apply essential standards and workplace readiness skills through authentic experiences. 

This course can help prepare students for the Microsoft Office Specialist Certification (MOS Certification) in Word and/or PowerPoint available from Microsoft through Certiport.   

Length of Course: 1 Unit    

Recommended for Grades: 9-12

Python Programming I

Course Number:   BP142X01

Course Number HONORS:  BP145X01

This course is a beginning course (not intended for experienced programmers) in which students can learn and practice coding in an online environment that requires only a modern web browser and Internet connection.  No special software is required to complete this course.  The course includes video content, practice labs, and coding projects.  The course content is presented in three units:  Unit 1 (40460) focuses on Python language basics, introducing data types, variable, input, functions, operators, conditional statements, loops, and incrementing.  Students will be introduced to the basic structure of the Python 3 language and be ready to take Unit 2 as well as other beginner courses.  Unit 2 (40461) focuses on Python data structures such as strings, lists, and range sequences, as well as methods for working with these structures.  Students will be introduced to data structures and files in Python 3 and be ready to take Unit 3 as well as other beginner courses.  Unit 3 (40521) focuses on using Python to develop sustainable code.  Students will be introduced to data structures and files in Python 3 and be ready for more-advanced Python learning.

Length of Course: 1 Unit  

Recommended for Grades: 10-12

Python Programming II

Course Number:   

Course Number Honors:  

This course will prepare students for jobs and careers connected with widely understood software development, which includes not only creating the code itself as a junior developer, but also computer systems design and software testing.  Students will be guided to a level of Python programming knowledge which will allow them to design, write, debug, and run programs encoded in the Python language, and to understand the basic concepts of software development technology.  In addition, students will learn IoT (Internet of Things) skills which can help transform any business in any industry, from manufacturing to saving endangered species.  Students will apply basic programming (using Python) to supprot IoT devices.  This course will prepare students for taking the PCAP:  Certified Associate in Python Programming certification exam.  Associate certification scaffolds to certification as a Certified Expert in Python Programming.

Length of Course: 1 Unit  

Recommended for Grades: 11-12

CTE Advanced Studies Computer Science and IT                              F/S

Course Number:  CS952X002

Prerequisite:        Two technical credits in one Career Cluster

This culminating course is for juniors and seniors who have earned two technical credits, one of which is a completer course, in one Career Cluster. The Advanced Studies course must augment the content of the completer course and prepare students for success in transitioning to postsecondary education and future careers. Students work under the guidance of a teacher with expertise in the content of the completer course in collaboration with community members, business representatives, and other school-based personnel. The four parts of the course include writing a research paper, producing a product, developing a portfolio, and delivering a presentation. Students demonstrate their abilities to use 21st century skills. DECA (an association for Marketing Education students) competitive events, community service, and leadership activities provide the opportunity to apply essential standards and workplace readiness skills through authentic experiences.

Length of Course: 1 Unit       

Recommended for Grades: 12

CTE Career and College Promise

Career and College Promise provides a way for any North Carolina high school student in good academic standing who meets eligibility requirements to take community college courses while still in high school.  Students can combine high school and postsecondary courses to earn a credential, certificate, or diploma in a technical field and meet requirements for CTE concentration.  Credit may be transferrable to another North Carolina community college, to UNC System institutions and to many of the state's independent colleges and universities.  Students should work with their school counselors to determine what CTE pathways are available at their local community college or in what other ways they can access this program.  If a student drops a college course after the first 10 days of the course, the student will receive a WF on their high school transcript.  This will reflect as a 59% in the student's GPA.

Computer Science and Information Technology Cooperative Education

Cooperative education is attached to a specific course that lists it in the course description. The cooperative education portion of the course counts as an enhancement course. Students must be enrolled in a Computer Science or Information Technology class in order to receive cooperative education credit.  The student is required to have a job the first week of the semester in which they are scheduled for Co-Op in order for Co-Op to continue. Cooperative education is a method of instruction where business education instruction is combined with paid employment related to classroom instruction. The two experiences must be planned and supervised by both the school and the employer so that each contributes to the education and employability of the student. A student must work a minimum of 135 on-the-job contact hours to receive credit.

The student must be able to provide his/her own transportation to and from the work-based learning

Length of Course:  1 unit per semester

Recommended for Grades:  11– 12